Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations or units of government serving youth in artistic, leadership, and humanitarian efforts.
Deadline: Request letter may be submitted by October 1; awards early January.
Connecting people who care with causes that matter. The Foundation builds permanent charitable funds (endowments), grows them through investment stewardship, and grants to nonprofit organizations, causes, and communities in its service area.
A defining feature of Community Foundation of the Quincy Area is its use of large, flexible grants alongside named endowment funds that steer money toward specific local priorities. In the recent grants list, the foundation made a $2,882,707 grant to Cross International for education and a $1,038,287 grant to Food for the Poor Inc for community betterment, showing that it supports both broad service work and larger-scale initiatives. The grant list also includes substantial support for church-based and community institution projects in Quincy, such as $335,000 to Church of St Peter and $250,000 to St John's Anglican Parish. Beyond those larger awards, the foundation’s giving reaches education, health, human services, workforce development, and early childhood education through program-specific funds and annual community grants. Its active programs include the Community Grant Program, Communityworks Endowment Fund, AgForward Program for Agricultural Education, and several named funds tied to youth arts, veterans’ education, and county endowments. That mix suggests a funder that combines responsive local grantmaking with long-term, place-based philanthropy across its service area.
Education appears in several forms. The Robert & Barbara Girouard Endowment supports veterans’ education for nonprofit postsecondary education and vocational training institutions and 501(c)(3) organizations in the 12-county service area. The Raymond, Norbert, and Eleanor Rueter Fund supports tutoring and specialized education, primarily to improve reading and comprehension skills for K-12 students. In workforce and family support, the Communityworks Endowment Fund backs workforce development, childcare, and early childhood education, with an emphasis on innovative efforts and high-impact projects. The Community Grant Program supports arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, and human services across the service area. For agriculture, the AgForward Program funds education and innovation in production agriculture, with grants up to $5,000.
Typical awards cluster around mid-sized grants: p25 is $7,850, median is $15,000, and p75 is $30,114. The grant list also shows much larger awards reaching into the millions, so the foundation uses both modest local grants and major program commitments. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Cross International, Food for the Poor Inc, Beyond Housing, and Quincy University, which points to repeat relationships rather than one-off awards only. Community Foundation of the Quincy Area is a mixed community foundation, and its named funds indicate a blend of unrestricted community support, capital-oriented support, and program/project funding. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including the Community Grant Program, Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund, and AgForward Program.
$10M
$65M
$13.2M
$11.4M
Most grants fall between $8K and $30K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$30K
PAT BENSON
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Giving is regional and heavily centered in Illinois: 61% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Illinois. Quincy appears repeatedly among recipient locations, along with Carthage and other places in the service area. Outside Illinois, the recent grants list includes recipients in St. Louis, Pine Lawn, and Chesterfield, Missouri; Buford, Georgia; Pompano Beach, Florida; Coconut Creek, Florida; Gulfport, Mississippi; Scarborough, Maine; and Springfield, Illinois. The grant-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 229 grants in the United States.
The foundation supports arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, human services, workforce development, early childhood education, and scholarships. Its active programs also include agriculture education, youth arts, veterans’ education, childcare, and county endowment building.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including the Community Grant Program, the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund, the AgForward Program for Agricultural Education, and the County Endowment Program.
The typical grant size sits at $7,850 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $30,114 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows awards above $1 million, so the foundation makes both routine and major grants.
Illinois receives 61% of the foundation’s grants. Recent recipient locations also include Quincy, Carthage, St. Louis, Pine Lawn, Chesterfield, Buford, Pompano Beach, Coconut Creek, Gulfport, Scarborough, and Springfield.
The recent grants list shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including Cross International, Food for the Poor Inc, Beyond Housing, Quincy University, and Catholic Charities of St Louis. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships in addition to single grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Foundation of the Quincy Area that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations or units of government serving youth in artistic, leadership, and humanitarian efforts.
Deadline: Request letter may be submitted by October 1; awards early January.
Who can apply: Registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations; units of government or municipalities for public/charitable purposes; faith-based organizations for programs benefiting the public good; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status must have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor; applicant organizations and grants awarded must serve at least one of the listed counties.
Deadline: Applications available March 1; due May 1; grants awarded in August.
Who can apply: Public and parochial schools or their foundations in Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike counties in Illinois; grants assist with tutoring or specialized education primarily to improve reading and/or comprehension skills for K-12 students.
Deadline: Applications accepted year round.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations or units of government that advance workforce development, childcare, and early childhood education in Adams, Brown, Hancock, and Pike Counties, IL.
Deadline: Ongoing.
Who can apply: Nonprofit postsecondary education and vocational training institutions and 501(c)(3) organizations located within the Community Foundation's 12-county service area; grants may be used for financial assistance of one or more honorably discharged veterans or for support of educational or career training programs targeted to veterans.
Deadline: Ongoing.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CROSS INTERNATIONAL | POMPANO BEACH, FL | $2,882,707 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FOOD FOR THE POOR INC | COCONUT C, FL | $1,038,287 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| AMIGOS FOR CHRIST | BUFORD, GA | $860,083 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| SEMILLA NUEVA | CHESTERFIE, MO | $780,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| BEYOND HOUSING | PINE LAWN, MO | $451,143 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CHURCH OF ST PETER | QUINCY, IL | $335,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| THE FND FOR BANRES-JEWISH HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN PARISH | QUINCY, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| THE GLOBAL FOODBANKING NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $142,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| THE SOULFISHER MINISTRIES | ST LOUIS, MO | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| QUINCY UNIVERSITY | QUINCY, IL | $117,092 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $110,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| RONALD MCDONALD H CHARITIES CEN ILL | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $97,192 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CREAMOS NORTE | SCARBOROUGH, ME | $76,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| CHADDOCK | QUINCY, IL | $76,470 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTE | ST LOUIS, MO | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| QUINCY HUMANE SOCIETY | QUINCY, IL | $74,698 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| UNLEASHING POTENIAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $72,250 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CIF LLC - DBA COSECHA IMPACT FUND | POTOMAC, MD | $70,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| TRICKLE UP | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION - III CHAPT | CHICAGO, IL | $64,016 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| REGIONAL OFF OF ED ADAMSPIKE CO | QUINCY, IL | $50,155 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| URBAN SPROUTS | ST LOUIS, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST LOUIS AREA FOODBANK | BRIDGETON, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| HELP ONE NOW | RALEIGH, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| AOPA FOUNDATION | FREDERICK, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVEL | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| QUINCY CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | QUINCY, IL | $47,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MISSION HOPE | ALPHARETTA, GA | $44,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTERMENT |
| HORIZONS SOCIAL SERVICES OF ADAMS | QUINCY, IL | $43,176 | 2025 | 2023 DISTRIBUTION |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GREATER ST L | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $42,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JOHN WOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDAT | QUINCY, IL | $41,488 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CONNECTIONS TO SUCCESS | ST CHARLES, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| THE LITTLE BIT FOUNDATION | OLIVETTE, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| A MILLION STARS INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ACTION BROWN COUNTY | MOUNT STERLING, IL | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| WEST CENTRAL CHILD CARE CONNECTION | QUINCY, IL | $38,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| QUINCY NOTRE DAME FOUNDATION | QUINCY, IL | $35,855 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST MARY SCHOOL | MOUNT STERLING, IL | $33,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST FRANCIS SOLANUS CHURCH | QUINCY, IL | $30,941 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| YOUNG LIFE OF QUINCY | QUINCY, IL | $30,500 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WEST CENTRAL ILL AGING & DISABILITY | QUINCY, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| READY READERS | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| QUINCY PUBLIC LIBRARY | QUINCY, IL | $27,500 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| MT STERLING COMMUNITY CENTER YMCA | MT STERLING, IL | $27,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY BETTER |
| COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS | POINT LOOKOUT, MO | $26,800 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED WAY OF BROWN COUNTY | MT STERLING, IL | $25,387 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BLACK GIRLS DO STEM | ST LOIUS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
CROSS INTERNATIONAL
$2,882,707EDUCATION
CHURCH OF ST PETER
COMMUNITY BETTER
ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN PARISH
$250,000COMMUNITY BETTER
QUINCY UNIVERSITY
$117,092EDUCATION
CHADDOCK
$76,470EDUCATION
QUINCY HUMANE SOCIETY
$74,698COMMUNITY BETTER
CIF LLC - DBA COSECHA IMPACT FUND
$70,000HUMAN SERVICES
TRICKLE UP
$70,000COMMUNITY BETTER
REGIONAL OFF OF ED ADAMSPIKE CO
$50,155EDUCATION
STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVEL
$50,000COMMUNITY BETTER
QUINCY CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
$47,000EDUCATION
MISSION HOPE
$44,500COMMUNITY BETTERMENT
JOHN WOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDAT
$41,488EDUCATION
ACTION BROWN COUNTY
$40,000COMMUNITY BETTER
WEST CENTRAL CHILD CARE CONNECTION
$38,000HUMAN SERVICES
QUINCY NOTRE DAME FOUNDATION
$35,855EDUCATION
ST MARY SCHOOL
$33,000EDUCATION
ST FRANCIS SOLANUS CHURCH
$30,941EDUCATION
WEST CENTRAL ILL AGING & DISABILITY
$30,000HUMAN SERVICES
QUINCY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$27,500ARTS & CULTURE
MT STERLING COMMUNITY CENTER YMCA
$27,000COMMUNITY BETTER
COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS
$26,800EDUCATION
UNITED WAY OF BROWN COUNTY
$25,387HUMAN SERVICES
YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER
$25,000EDUCATION
ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC
$25,000EDUCATION